Mavericks 119 Thunder 115: Game 68 Recap

The Lead
Mavs come back from a 15 point second half deficit as Parsons once again leads the way.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Parsons, 31
Rebounds: Chandler, 7
Assists: Rondo, 13
+-: Rondo, +12
Thunder
Points: Westbrook, 24
Rebounds: Kanter, McGary, 13
Assists: Westbrook, 12
+-: Collison, +11

Game Ball
Chandler Parsons
31 points, 10-14 FG, 3-5 3PT, 8-9 FT

X-Factor
Rajon Rondo
11 points, 13 assists, 5-8 FG

Goat Horns
D.J. Augustin
6 points, 3-11 FG, 0-7 3PT

Play of the Game
Chandler Parsons ties the game with 8 second left in the third quarter on a three while being fouled. He would miss the free throw, but his shot erased what was a 15 point Thunder lead earlier in the quarter.

Stat of the Game
The Mavericks are now 34-0 when leading or tied after three quarters. They are 31-0 when leading and 3-0 when tied.

Of Note

• Al-Farouq Aminu missed his second straight game with his injured shoulder while Devin Harris missed the second half with an illness.
• The Thunder of course had no sympathy, as they were without Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka.
• Rajon Rondo's points-assists double-double were his first since his second game as a Mav on Dec. 22 against Atlanta.
• In the two games this year at the AAC against the Thunder, the Mavs held Russell Westbrook to 42 points on 13-40 shooting and 12 turnovers.
• The Mavericks were able to win despite being badly outrebounded 59-37.
• The win moved the Mavs into 5th place in the West, 1/2 game ahead of both the Clippers and Spurs and 5.5 games ahead of the 8th place Thunder.

Grades
Nowitzki: A
Parsons: A+
Chandler: B+
Ellis: B-
Rondo: A+
Villanueva: B+
Stoudemire: B+
Jefferson: C+
Barea: B

Quote of Note
"Probably that we were down 15 and not playing too well."
Chandler Parsons on what triggered their comeback.

They Tweeted It
 

Westbrook: 24 pts, 7-of-17 (1-of-4), 12 assists, 7 turnovers, 6 fouls. Rondoooooo
— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) March 17, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (43-25) take a break from the Western Conference gauntlet on Wednesday when they host the Orlando Magic (21-47).